AMP - Give us an example of when the magic happened in one of your stories. It could be a phrase, a character, a paragraph, a scene, a location, etc. Susan - Magic happened in Spider Brains when the Ryder’s come over for dinner. Now, this is magic of the emotive kind. Not literal magic. This magic happens when so much has gone wrong and then, suddenly, there’s that sparkle in the dark that gives us hope. The scene is with Matthew Ryder and Susie Speider. They’re in the kitchen eating so that Susie doesn’t have to sit in the dining area with the dead mounted deer head (a deer she calls “Moose”). Susie just wants the Ryder’s to leave and Matthew doesn’t understand this at all. Bonus: AMP - Did you know right then when it happened? SW - No. I never really know what’s coming in the way of interaction between characters. I usually know the next scene I have to write but sometimes the story is so organic that I won’t even know that until it happens.AP - How did you know it was magical, did it feel right, is that how you knew? Or did someone point it out? SW - Parts of the characters’ interaction broke my heart. I usually write through those scenes allowing them to play out. When I went back to read it, I had so many emotions stirring that I sort of knew it worked… at least for me. And all I could hope was that it would work for my readers too.AP - What draft/revision did it happen?SW - The first draft.AP - Was it while you were doing something other than writing, when it came to you?SW- No. I wrote Spider Brains straight through. Actually, that’s not true. I started the story in August but was on book tour for Drowning and had to pause. Then the holidays bowled me under and I finished Spider Brains in February. But if I deleted those times I didn’t write because of other work and holidays, I wrote this story straight through.AP - Were you listening to Music? Or was it quiet?SW -It’s always quiet at our home. We have cats and dogs and birds and our house sits on five acres of wooded land that abuts a wildlife pond. The serenity (allowing for barking and hissing every now and again) creates a superb environment to create. Please include the Title, the book cover (if possible) and links to your website/blogs. Title: SPIDER BRAINS Susan’s Website: www.susanwingate.com Susan’s Amazon Bookstore: astore.amazon.com/theoffwebo03e-20 Susan’s Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/authorsusanwingate Susan’s Twitter Page: www.twitter.com/susanwingate